Now, Muziris tour to lure travellers

Kochi: With the tourism season off to a start, the Ernakulam District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) will rollout a one-day Muziris package by August 15, targeted at foreign visitors. “There has been a dip in tourist arrivals over the last two years and hence to woo tourists, the DTPC is focusing more on heritage site visits and backwater tourism this time.

“The daily road trip to Muziris sites will be priced at Rs 950 per head but school students will get a discount of Rs 300 under the student promotion scheme being implemented by the Tourism department,” said a DTPC official. The one-day trip will include heritage sites such as Paravur Jew Synagogue, Paliam Kovilakom and Nalukettu, Chennamangalam Jew Synagogue, Kottayil Kovilakom, Cheraman Masjid, Pallipuram and Kottapuram Forts. Boating at Marine Drive too will be extended to tourists.

This season, DTPC has decided to give prominence to backwater tours. This will include both ‘Full day backwater tour’ (priced at Rs 950) and ‘Afternoon village backwater tour’ (Rs 650) to woo more tourists. “Sri Lanka is fast emerging as a competitor to Kerala with its clean beaches. We have to explore the unique features that we possess like backwaters.  We have included more spots like Njarackal under the backwater tour programmes besides the 13 islands along the Periyar River such as Kadamakudy, Kothadu, Pizhala, Thanthonnithuruthu and Moolampally,” the official said.

“Kochi Backwater tourism is yet to be explored. For those arriving by flight or cruise ships, there is no need to spend an extra three hours to go to Kumarakom or Alapuzha to enjoy backwater rides,” he said.